Seven New 2011-2012 TV Shows Worth Waiting For

As the five major broadcast channels are unveiling their line-ups for the 2011-2012 season, a few new shows have already been set in our DVRs. In honor of upfront week, we’re seven upcoming shows that have us looking toward the fall (and beyond).

7. Grimm Fridays at 9pm on NBC, Fall 2011Fairy tales have already provided plenty of fodder for Hollywood movies, and now they’re headed for the small screen. So why is Grimm worth a glance in the midst of all this pixie dust? David Greenwalt (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) and Jim Kouf serve as creators/executive producers of the project with Marc Buckland (My Name is Earl) as the director. Set in Portland, the cop-drama promises a science-fiction spin on the classic Grimm brothers’ tales, which are fairly awesome in their original form. We’re in for the pilot.

6. Are You There, Vodka? It’s Me, Chelsea NBC, Winter 2012
Comedienne Chelsea Handler’s best-selling book is coming weekly to our television’s with Laura Prepon (That ‘70s Show) as the twenty-something Chelsea in search of a life of fun, booze and no regrets. With the book as a reference and creators Dottie Dartland Zicklin (Dharma & Greg) and Julie Larson (The Drew Carey Show) on board, hilarity is likely to ensue.

5. Terra Nova Mondays at 9pm on Fox, Fall 2011Steven Spielberg has created a show about dinosaurs, which will obviously be pretty awesome. Because of the dinosaurs. A family from the future, 2149, goes back in time to escape from the dying planet and make a new life during Earth’s primitive years. Once there they join a small community of humans, though they may be as dangerous as the terrors (dinosaurs!) outside the walls.

4.Napoleon Dynamite Fox, Winter 2012
Jon Heder, Aaron Ruell, Efren Ramirez, Tina Majorino and Sandy Martin all reprise their roles for this animated version of the quotable comedy, featuring the adventures of Napoleon and friends.

3. The New Girl Tuesdays at 9pm on Fox, Fall 2012This new sitcom stars actress, singer, and one of our personal favorites, Zooey Deschanel. Her character Jess Day experiences heartbreak then moves in with three new male roommates, bringing along her all-too-cute and quirky personality. Added bonus, she sings in the show. Sure, it appears to be only short jingles that she makes up on the spot, but still it’s there.

2. Allen Gregory Sundays at 9:30pm on Fox, Fall 2012Another addition to Fox’s Animation Domination line-up, Allen Gregory is a precocious seven-year-old, penned and played by Jonah Hill. As he prepares to leave homeschooling behind, Gregory attempts to use his stellar set of smarts to navigate elementary school and try to fit in with children his own age.

1. How To Be A Gentleman CBS, Fall 2011 How To Be A Gentleman is a new CBS comedy from David Hornsby (It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia) who plays an etiquette columnist with Kevin Dillon (Entourage) as both a rival and friend. Dave Foley, Mary Lynn Rasjkub, and Rhys Darby are also part of the cast, making it a looks to be the most promising show of the season . A trailer has yet to be released, so for now you’ll just have to trust us that it will be awesome.